Kern County, CA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Unlike many California counties, Kern County's noise ordinance (Chapter 8.36 of Title 8, Health and Safety) does not establish a blanket nighttime quiet-hours window for residential noise. Instead, Section 8.36.020 prohibits willfully making, emitting or transmitting any 'loud and raucous noise' upon or from any public street, highway, public park or public property at any hour. 'Loud and raucous noise' is defined in Section 8.36.010 as any sound 'of such volume, intensity or carrying power as to interfere with or disturb the reasonable and quiet comfortable enjoyment of life or property or which is adverse to the general public welfare in any neighborhood.' Specific time-of-day limits in Chapter 8.36 apply only to construction activity (see construction-hours). Quiet hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. are codified separately at Section 13.20.140 for users of county public campgrounds. Outside campgrounds, residents must rely on the general 'loud and raucous' nuisance standard, on California Penal Code § 415 (disturbing the peace), or on California Civil Code § 3479 (private nuisance) to address late-night noise.